In the Shadow of Blackbirds With a historically factual background, Winters touches on the fear and pandemonium that took over the world in the early 1900's. Even though the story is rather paranormal, it does touch on some very real issues: PTSD in soldiers, the loss of millions of lives to war and the spanish flu, and the masses grasping onto the hope that photographers could capture their lost loved ones in a picture to keep them close. Read more of this review at Notes in the Margin.